Rangers are looking to hijack Leeds’ move for 6ft 4 defender Kyle Bartley, according to the Scottish Sun.
They claim that the Swansea defender is a player that Steven Gerrard is interested in and that he would consider a return to Ibrox because of the former Liverpool legend.
Bartley moved to Rangers on loan from Arsenal in 2011 when he made 30 appearances, although his time there was disrupted through injury.
Leeds were said to be confident that they would land Bartley, who impressed after a loan move in the 2016/17 season, but now face high-profile competition.
The Scottish Sun claim Swansea would sell for £5million but both clubs think they can get him for around £2.5million this summer.
Good move for Rangers?
Without a shadow of a doubt.
Bartley is a quality centre-back who would form a dream partnership with Martin Skrtel, another reported Gerrard target.
Some reports have said Swansea want £6million for Bartley, but the Scottish Sun claim he could move for a lot less money. They say Swansea want £5million but also claim he could go for half of that. If Rangers can get him for £2.5million, and we actually doubt that, they would be getting a real bargain.
This is Futbol rating: 8/10
Likely to happen?
Bartley has three years left on his contract but definitely looks like he’s on his way out of Wales. The Scottish Sun claim that he wants a move and that he’d be prepared to move to Ibrox.
That means, at the present time, that his options are Leeds or Rangers. Both are attractive options, with very different motivations for the 26-year-old enforcer.
Rangers can offer European football, albeit in the Europa League and having to go through the qualifiers. Leeds offer a familiar territory, a club where the fans already love him and a potential route back to the Premier League.
Rangers have Gerrard and Leeds currently have an unpopular manager in Paul Heckingbottom. Both have brilliant supporters and big ambitions.
It’s a close call but if we were Bartley, we’d probably decide to go to Rangers.
This is Football rating: 7/10